Keyboard construction



Jan. 12, 1932. c NT 1,840,712

KEYBOARD CONSTRUCTION Filed June 11, 1951 all. arwmz Patented Jan. 12,1932 UNITED STATES.

CASPER ELDBED GRANT, or ron'rsmourmvmomm KEYBOARD coirs'rauczrronApplication flled June 11, 1931. Serial No.. 5 43,711.

This invention relates to a keyboard construction designed primarily foruse where two or more manuals of ke s are used in the same instrument,as on t e console of an organ.

In the consoles of large organs from three to five manuals of keys aregenerall used, and for the purpose of supporting t e keys at the properangles to permit correct engagement by the fingers of the performer ithas been the practice to tilt the several manuals so that they convergetoward the position in which the hands are most conveniently held whileplaying. As the manuals diverge away from the performer there has been aconsiderable waste of space between the back portions of the key banksand the console of necessit has been made higher than would otherwise benecessary.

It is an object of the present invention to provide key manuals whichcan be arranged in parallel superposed relation but set back asordinarily, the proper angles of the keys of the several manuals beingobtained not by tilting the manuals but by extending the upper surfacesof the keys toward the proper position where the hands should be heldwhile playing.

Another object is to provide keys made of metal and cooperating withparts made of fire and water resisting materials whereby injuries fromfire and water will be reduced to the minimum.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appearas thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within thescope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention hasbeen shown.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 isa vertical section through three manuals or banks of keyshaving the present improvements.

ranged benea Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through one of the keysand adjacent parts. Figure 3 is a bottom' plan view of a'key. the bottomplate bein" removed and some of the cooperating parts eing shown insection. Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1designates thebottom plate of a key bank or manual, this plate beingsuitably mounted on supporting panel 2 and block 3. To the plate 1 aboveblock 3 is secured a stri 4 on which are fixedly secured the back endsof sheet metal strips 5 constituting .thewhite keys'of a keyboard. Eachof these is so shaped-as to resemble an ordinary ivory andwooden .keywhen viewed from above. Theblack keys 6 are similarly mounted and arealso of sheet metal. They are shaped like the corresponding keys of .theusualgkeyboard construction. -All the keys are fastened at their backends in th usual manner-. g Y

Eachof the sheet metal white keys 5 is reinforced by, small side flanges7 extending alon those edges projecting from'the panel 2 o the console.All of these visible portions are preferably porcelained so as to have asmooth, enduring finish.

Each key may have means for yieldingly supporting it in raised position,this being a spring 8 interposed between plate 1 and a block 9 ofwaterproof and fire resisting fiber or the like secured to andprojecting downwardly from the key. The key is guided on a pin 10extending upwardly from plate 1 into a hole 11. in the block, and a stopcushion or pad 12 is located on the plate and beneath the block. Upwardmovement of the key is limited by a stop pin 13 carried by the block andslidable in an opening in plate 1, there being a head 14 on the pin forengaging under theplate.

Separate s aced terminals 15 are areach key and are electricallyconnected to the valve mechanism, (not shown) controlled by the key. Acontact 16 is carried by the key and when thekey isdepressed thiscontact will engage the two ter minals and close the circuittherebetween.

An important feature of the present in vention resides in the fact thatthe keys 5 are not generally flat. In practice only the keys of thatbank at the natural level will be flat and horizontal. The front ends ofthe white keys in the upper banks are inclined downwardly toward theperformer while the lower banks can have the ends of their white keysinclined upwardly toward the performer. This has been shown clearly inFigure 1 and in view of the arrangement described, the hands of theperformer can be held at the correct angle while playing on the keys of.

any bank. At the same time it is unnecessary to incline the severalbanks so that they will diverge from the erformer and produce a largeamount of waste space in the console.

What is claimed is:

1. A keyboard includin super osed parallel manuals of keys, the orwardends of the white keys of each manual converging forwardly toward theforward ends of the keys of the other manuals.

2. A keyboard including separate manuals of keys, the forward ends onlyof the keys of each manual converging forwardly toward the keys of theother manuals.

3. A keyboard including separate manuals of keys, the forward ends onlyof the keys of each manual converging forwardly toward the keys of theother manuals, the remaining portions of the keys being normallyparallel with the keys of the other manuals.

4. A sheet metal manual key and means for stifiening the forward endportion of the key, said end portion being pitched at an angle to theremaining portion.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature.

CASPER ELDRED GRANT.

